Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-11-11
CHlNAMEN STARTING HOME,
Odd Scenes Witnessed In san Francisco.
Cclestials Departing for Cathay.

tclcStials departing Tor Cathay.
When the city slept and nothing dis
turbed the stiffness Of the hour save an
occasional milk wagon rafting over the
cobbles, and only police officer, night
worker or carouser was strolling through
the streets or, perhaps, a quiet news
paper man going YEARLY to his home.
wagon after wagon loaded with Chinese
and their luggage were arriving at Bran
nan street, opposite the wharf of the
Pacific Mail Steamship company, San
Francisco. 1t may seem strange why
they should be there so soon, as the wharf
is not opened for them till ! O'Clock.
They were there, however, each one
wishing his wagon was first at tie gate,
so that he could secure what he consid-
cred the best berth in the steerage.
Shortly after a. IN. a load of seven
coolies, sitting high on top of a large
quantity of luggage, drove up to the gate
and had first place. During the next
hour few arrivals heightened the line of
teams; but about ) o'clock a gray light
stole softly over the lstless undulating
water of the bay. and from the dark fog
that lay off in the distance a hazy purple
came and dissolved into a silvery gray
that spread over the eastern sky, dim
ming the stars and rendering the lights
on the ship useless.
This heralded the arrival of express and
freight wagons loaded with all kinds of
conceivable uggage-bundles of clothes,
mating bags, strange looking boxes, tin
vessels, Saratoga trunks, /" Mclean"
tools, and, with the Chinese, the ubiqui-
tous round baskets that are carried on
each end of strong pole over the shout
der-all containing good things for the
Flowery Kingdom. On top of all this were
huddled four or five, or perhaps more,
Cinnamon bound for home.
The hoarse, warning voice of the fog
horn and the steady measured beats of the
fog bell coming dolefully across the water
ceased after sunrise, but the wharves
We're alive with the hum of a coming
days toll, and the din of the Chinese
jabbering and yelling ere the work of the
day was commenced. A reporter, who
was there in time to see the first arrival
tried to converse with many of the Chi
nese, but me no sabe,' they would say
fearing perhaps that it might not be just
right for their welfare.
For two or three hours the coolies
gathered outside the wharf gate, anXiously
waiting to be admitted. At last the time
came when the door was opened, about 7
o clock. and wild rush was made toward
the steamer. Sometimes, indeed. the rush
from the Oakland ferry on landing at the
mole is like it, but band of restless cat
tie let loose would be the closest possible re-
semblance to the race of Chinese down the
wharf. They were stopped about half way
by officers and workmen on the wharf,
but the coolies would try every scheme
to get beyond the line, only to be driven
back as a steer would when running off
from pen. At this time the gentlemanly
freight clerk of the steamer asked the re-
porter to come to the front. adding:
"Now the fun commences keep in front
where the crush is, and their attempts at
crossing the line will be amusing"
1t certainly was. Two men were sta
toned before the Chinese, one armed
with a heavy broom that often came
down numerically on the back or head
or shoulders of some coolie as he tried &c
make break When one of the men
would turn his back for moment
another break would he made. but the
unfortunate would be hurled back with a
cuff or shake. and very often a little
stronger language than Get up there.
Come in here" or Get back" with
the accent on the back, and something
else on the coolies. The men who tried
to preserve an unbroken front cut a
funny figure as their mates joled over
their task; indeed, every time a Mongo
would be put back fresh sally of laugh.
ter would be made and something funny
said, much to the discomfort of the Chi
nese. A Chinaman carrying a live duck
went boldly to the ship, but the duck
quacking attracted the attention of the
broom armed guard, who was told by al
officer close by that the ducks wanted tc
walk. walk" but John carried them
This was a pun the guard enjoyed, still
he thought John had better walk back
too, but on attempting to turn him bach
was answered with ''belong ship, which
evidently was password for the Chinese
deck hands.
After a long wait the ship was ready
and the word was given to let the Chi
nese aboard. The line was broken like 6
flash, and a tremendous sally made fol
the gang plank, one coolie battling will
the other for precedence; in fact, &
scramble amounting almost n a free
fight ensued; hats, bundles. baskets
sticks. tin vessels and ''pig tails wer,
flying over the heads of the crowd, anc
at the end of the gang plank prostrat,
and fighting forms rendered the planl
impossible. At last two stalwart officers
seized the nearest coolie and threw hin
toward the ship along the plank. Thi
cleared the way little, and. between
boxing, pushing and the combined
efforts of four men, kind of wild ordel
was preserved ashore and the gang planl
kept clear; but in their quarters, where
every one was looking for the best bunk
scene of Undesirable tumult was wit
messed. Every Chinese seemed full Of al
eager desire to push his way through the
narrow passages between the hunks anC
up and down the stairs, elbowing ever!
one else, only thinking of himself, anC
roaring, jabbering. fighting, hauling load
Of h1UOape and securing his bert h.